Alicia Purcell

Sept. 2019: Participant in Flagstaff, Arizona’s “Science in the Park”, part of Flagstaff’s Science Week. We set up a booth to educate the general public about the research conducted by the Center for Ecosystem Science and Society at Northern Arizona University. This included seed necklace sprouting, moss rehydration, invertebrate observation, and climate change education.

July 2019: Participant in group presentation to a group of students part of local Navajo college Dine College summer camp titled “Artic vs. Antarctic” where we discussed key differences in these polar regions, climate change, and current research in both regions.

Jan. 2019: Participant on a panel from Palmer Station, Antarctica answering questions about importance of Antarctic science and climate change to ~500 tourists on an Antarctic cruise ship.

Dec. 2016 - Dec. 2019: Participant in a program called “Science in the Classroom” where the Center for Ecosystem Science and Society at Northern Arizona University visits a local 6th grade classroom of students to teach them science including topics in soil stability, carbon cycling, microbiology, etc. http://ecoss.nau.edu/outreach/science-in-the-classroom/. I have participated in this event over 6 times, twice were day long field trips of the classes to our laboratories where we set up educational booths to teach many topics including DNA extraction, leaf litter decomposition, and the carbon cycle.

Sept. 2017: Participant in Flagstaff, Arizona’s “Science in the Park”, part of Flagstaff’s Science Week. We set up a booth to educate the general public about the research conducted by the Center for Ecosystem Science and Society at Northern Arizona University. This included seed necklace sprouting, education about dating trees, and soil respiration measurements of CO2 from decomposition.

March 2017: Participant in Flagstaff, Arizona’s “4th Annual Flagstaff STEM Celebration” where we set up a booth to educate primary school students about the research conducted by the Center for Ecosystem Science and Society at Northern Arizona University. This included trivia, seed necklace sprouting, and a soil filter activity.

April 2015: Invited to present research results to a research seminar class for undergraduates at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, TN. This was a model presentation for how to present data and a discussion with the class regarding what it is like to attend a scientific meeting.

May 2013: Assisted presentations with Dr. Mikucki at Gibbs Elementary School in Knoxville, TN as part of their Earth Science day. Presentation topic: extreme microorganisms with focus of polar environments. This was a one day event including 6 classrooms of third through fifth graders.